A new immigration pilot program means officials from the council are predicting a figure of 19,000 new immigrants for 2017 for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador and Prince Edward Island.

But in the five years from their date of arrival, more than half of new immigrants leave and it is retention that poses the greatest challenge for the region.

Even within the four provinces themselves, 80 per cent of new immigrants gravitate towards the big cities, when it is often rural areas where the need is greatest.

Atlantic Canada is at the sharp end of Canada’s problems with aging populations. New immigrants are crucial to improving the demographic and increasing the number of working-age residents.

Provincial politicians have described it as the single biggest issue facing the region.

The Carrot Approach

Retention of immigrants in the more rural provinces is not a new problem for Canada, so if the current lawmakers are going to solve it, they need to think innovatively.

There needs to be considerable joined-up thinking across all levels of government to make it happen.

Provincial policy makers need to create the right conditions and consider a variety of measures for immigrants to remain there.